Characteristics of sensitization associated with chronic pain conditions.

Clin J Pain

Departments of ‡Behavioral Science †Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry Departments of §Community Health and Family Medicine *Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Published: February 2014

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to explore the different types of sensitization that contribute to increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia) in individuals with chronic pain conditions.
  • Using thermal stimulation on various body parts, researchers found that individuals with chronic pain rated their pain higher during tests compared to pain-free participants, especially when experiencing intense pain at the time of testing.
  • Results indicated that while pain sensitivity was heightened during descending temperature tests across all groups, fibromyalgia participants showed prolonged sensitivity, suggesting a unique aspect of chronic pain that affects deeper tissues.

Article Abstract

Objectives: To describe and understand varieties and characteristics of sensitization contributing to hyperalgesia in participants with chronic pain conditions.

Methods: Thermal stimulation was delivered to the face, forearm, and calf of pain-free participants and individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular pain disorder (TMD), and fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). Three-second contacts by a preheated thermode occurred at 30-second intervals in ascending and then in descending series (0.7°C steps).

Results: Thermal pain ratings during ascending series were greater at each site in individuals diagnosed with chronic pain. Intense pain at the time of testing further enhanced the ratings at all sites, but mild or moderate clinical pain did not have this effect. Thermal pain in all participants was greater during descending series compared with the ascending series of arm and leg stimulation. The hypersensitivity during the descending series was comparable in pain-free, FM and TMD participants but was increased in duration for arm or leg stimulation of FM participants.

Discussion: The widespread sensitization for irritable bowel syndrome and TMD participants does not rely on mechanisms of spatial and temporal summation often invoked to explain widespread hyperalgesia associated with chronic pain. Increased sensitivity during descending series of stimulation of an arm or leg but not the face indicates a propensity for sensitization of nociceptive input to the spinal cord. Abnormally prolonged sensitization for FM participants reveals a unique influence of widespread chronic pain referred to deep somatic tissues.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4389646PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e318287aac7DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

chronic pain
20
descending series
16
arm leg
12
pain
10
characteristics sensitization
8
associated chronic
8
irritable bowel
8
bowel syndrome
8
thermal pain
8
ascending series
8

Similar Publications

Abdominal PP meshes coated with functional core-sheath biodegradable nanofibers with anticoagulant and antibacterial properties.

Biomater Adv

January 2025

Univ. Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, UMR 8207 - UMET - Unité Matériaux et Transformations, F-59000 Lille, France. Electronic address:

Abdominal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure, involving in most cases the use of textile meshes providing a mechanical barrier to consolidate the damaged surrounding tissues and prevent the resurgence of the hernia. However, in more than half cases postoperative complications such as adhesions and infections occur at the surface of the mesh, leading to chronic pain for the patient and requiring the removal of the implant. One of the most promising strategies to reduce the risk of postoperative adhesions and infections is to add a physical barrier between the mesh and the abdominal walls.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Past studies have shown the efficacy of spinal targeted drug delivery (TDD) in pain relief, reduction in opioid use, and cost-effectiveness in long-term management of complex chronic pain. We conducted a survey to determine treatment variables associated with patient satisfaction.

Materials And Methods: Patients in a single pain clinic who were implanted with Medtronic pain pumps to relieve intractable pain were identified from our electronic health record.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Pain is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in hemodialyzed (HD) patients, with prevalence rates between 33% and 82%. Risk factors for chronic pain in HD patients are older age, long-lasting dialysis history, several concomitant diseases, malnutrition, and others. However, chronic pain assessment in HD patients is rarely performed by specialists in pain medicine, with relevant consequences in terms of diagnostic and treatment accuracy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by hypersecretion of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) by typically benign phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (PMTs). FGF23 excess causes chronic hypophosphatemia through renal phosphate losses and decreased production of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D. TIO presents with symptoms of chronic hypophosphatemia including fatigue, bone pain, weakness, and fractures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prevalence of anhedonia in women with deep endometriosis.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Gynecology Department Institute Clinic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.

Anhedonia, characterized by diminished motivation and pleasure sensitivity, is increasingly recognized as prevalent among patients with chronic pain. Deep Endometriosis (DE), the most severe endophenotype of the disease, is commonly presented with chronic pelvic pain. This cross-sectional study reports, for the first time, the prevalence of anhedonia in a sample comprised by 212 premenopausal women with suspected DE referred to a tertiary hospital.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!